Latest Coverage

"In the last four years, Michigan's brutal economy, the shredding of the state's safety net and the national foreclosure crisis have more than tripled the number of homeless students, as reported this week in a four-part Free Press series, 'Michigan's Homeless Students.'"

"Some officials question the validity of the graduation rate, though few people dispute the school district is wrestling with some serious issues. Problems plaguing Lakewood's schools were highlighted in a needs assessment study completed by state education officials in 2008."

"Thousands of Detroit children from low-income families stuck on waiting lists to get into the Head Start early learning program because of poor management by the city may get new opportunities."

"Crosby Middle School eighth-grader Breya Jones said she was pretty sure she understood what homeless people looked like, and until a couple of weeks ago, that image didn't look anything like her. She had no idea that at least 28 of her schoolmates are considered to be homeless by the district."

"Crosby Middle School eighth-grader Breya Jones said she was pretty sure she understood what homeless people looked like, and until a couple of weeks ago, that image didn't look anything like her. She had no idea that at least 28 of her schoolmates are considered to be homeless by the district."

"Thomasboro, in west Charlotte, gets extra federal and local aid because most students come from low-income homes. Ballantyne, in the county's southern tip, is more than twice the size, with a low poverty level."

"Senior citizens in Preble County, Ohio, and in five Indiana counties received holiday gifts of food and other items through the Preble County Council on Aging and the Richmond-based Area 9 In-Home and Community Services Agency."

"Under the program, the van would offer voluntary treatments to second- and seventh-graders at schools with the highest percentage of students on free or reduced-price lunches. The age groups reflect when permanent molars have erupted. The health department, which says 47,600 low-income Pinellas kids have dental needs, would operate the vehicle with a hygienist, assistant and clerk."

"A program that stuffs thousands of backpacks full of peanut butter, crackers and cereal every Friday so Jefferson County elementary students from low-income homes have something to eat each weekend is about get much bigger."

"With an estimated count at 12,929, homeless children in Mississippi outnumber the populations of 9 out of 10 of the state's towns and cities.Still, the number has dropped from a peak in 2008 of nearly 20,000."

"The extra hundreds of thousands of dollars have allowed the cash-strapped schools to hire tutors, librarians, counselors and other staff who work to improve the academic success of not only low-income kids, but others at risk of failing."

"The issue is whether federal education efforts will compromise opportunities for our highest-achieving students. One might assume that a president determined to "win the future" would make a priority of ensuring that our ablest kids have the chance to excel."